Junction-block for electric fixtures



(No Model.)

' F. A. DUGGAN.

JUNCTION BLOCK FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES. No. 498,539.

Patented May 30, 1893.

FIE-E v Flfll- Flil- FIE- 3- f INVENTOH BY if ATTOHNEYJ W/TNESSES:

UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC A. DUGGAN, OF TRENTON, NEIV JERSEY.

JUNCTION-BLOCK FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,539, dated May 130,1893.

Application filed February 24,1893. Serial No. 46 2 No model T0 at whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIO A. DUGGAN, a citizen of the United. States,and a resident of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, have invented anImproved Junction-Block for Electric Fixtures, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of cut-out orjunction blocks which are made in horse-shoe shape for use in connectionwith electrical fixtures. These are usually made of porcelain or othervitreous material, although other insulating substances may be used, andare provided with suitable metal pieces to which the electricalconductors may be connected, with or without the interposition of fuses.This junction block is made in a horse-shoe form in order that it may bereadily applied to partially fit around a tube or pipe carryingelectrical conductors.

The object of my invention is to so 0011- struct a block of thischaracter that it maybe pressed or molded at one operation in one pairof dies and yet at the same time be adapted for use in connection withsimple fiat metal plates which form the metal work for the electric wireconnections and which are secured by screws passing through the platesthemselves and through the body of the block.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of afour-pole cut-out or junction block constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is asectional plan view of the same; with two of themetal plates and their screws removed. Fig. 3 is a rear view; and Fig.at is a transverse section on the line 4t4t, Fig. 2.

Although in the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to afour-polecut-out or junction block it will be readily understood thatthe block may be constructed for a twopole or any other number ofconnections.

As shown in the drawings the body A of my improved block is made of ashape somewhat approximating a horse-shoe and is provided with a flangeor rim B. To the outside of the body A of the block are to be appliedthe flat metal platesP held in place by securing screws S passingthrough lateral openings or slots in the body of the block in a planesubstantially at right angles to what may he considered the axis of thehorse-shoe, and which axis would be coincident with the axis of a tubeor pipe to which the block is fitted. These metal plates P are providedwith binding posts 1) to which the electrical conductors and fuses, ifthe latter are to be used, are connected up. In the old style ofhorse-shoe cut-out or junction block the openings or slots through whichthe securing screws S passed wereformed in the body of the blocksubstantially radially from the axis of the horseshoe, the outer face ofthe latter being made on a curve or segment of a circle. In consequencethese openings had to be formed in the block ata separate operation fromthat in which the block itself was pressed into shape.

According to my invention I make the openings through which the securingscrews S are to pass in the form of slots D all running in linesparallel with each other and substantially parallel with a line passingthrough the axis of the horse shoe and the center of the horse shoe.Instead of forming the outer face of the body of the block which is toreceive the metal parts, rounded on the segment of a circle as in theold style of block, I make each part which is to receive the metal platewith a plane face, the several plane faces being arranged at differentangles. In the four-pole cut-out or junction block shown in thedrawings, the inclination of these plane faces a is such as to give theinclined step-like appearance shown in Fig. 2. The securing screws Sbeing at right angles or thereabout, to their respective metal plates P,it will readily be seen that the several parallel slots D for thepassage of these screws must be made of considerable width since thescrews have to pass through the slots at angles to the line of theslots. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Recesses (Z are alsomolded at the same time on the inner face of the body of the horse shoeat the edges of the slots D for the reception of the heads of thesecuring screws S. It will be seen that my improved block can be pressedup at one operation.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electrical cut-out or junction block ofapproximately horse shoe form and adapted for the reception of metalparts for the connection of electrical conductors, and having formed inthe body of the block lateral slots parallel with each other for thepassage of the screws to secure the said metal parts, all substantiallyas described.

2. An electrical cut-out or junction block of approximately horse-shoeform having plane faces for the reception of themetal parts, and havingformed in the body of the block lateral slots parallel with each otherfor the passage of the screws to secure the said metal parts, allsubstantially as described.

3. An electrical cut-out orjunction block of an approximately horse-shoeform and adapted for the reception of metal parts for the connection ofelectrical conductors and having in its body lateral slots for thesecuring screws, said slots being parallel with each other and with aline drawn through the axis and center of the horse shoe, allsubstantially as described.

4. An electrical cut-out or junction block of approximately horse-shoeform, and adapted for the reception of metal parts for the connection ofelectrical conductors, and having slots passing laterally through itsbody parallel with each other for the passage of the scouring screws andprovided with recesses at the edges of the slots for the heads of saidscrews, all substantially as described.

5. An electrical cut-out or junction block of approximately horse-shoeform, having slots passing laterally through its body, parallel witheach other, in combination with metal plates, and securing screws forthe plates pass ing through the said slots, all substantially asdescribed.

6. An electrical cut-out or junction block of approximately horse-shoeform, having slots passing laterally through its body, parallel Witheach other, and having on its outer side plane faces at angles to eachother, in combination with flat metal plates fitted to the said planefaces and securing screws for the plates passing at angles through thesaid parallel slots, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIO A. DUGGAN. Witnesses:

BENJ. B. DINSMORE, FREDF. KATZENBACH.

